Department of Health & Human Services

Volunteers, Donations sought for Homeless Count

With the biennial Point-in-Time (PIT) count of homeless people coming up Jan. 28, the PIT committee is asking for assistance in recruiting volunteers and gathering donations.

During Jan. 28, volunteers will connect with homeless people around the community to find out some basic information about them, as well as where they slept the night before.

The count is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requirement. Information gathered during this count is used by local planning departments and by county nonprofit agencies in applications for grant funding and planning.

“The results help us look at the demographics of our homeless population and help us plan for the future,” said Barbara LaHaie, assistant director, programs, Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services and co-chair of the Humboldt Housing and Homeless Coalition (HHHC).

The HHHC is looking for people interested in assisting with the count, as well as people interested in donating socks for homeless who participate in the count. Food for count volunteers is also being sought. Please contact the volunteer coordinator at 599-3334.

For more information you can also visit the HHHC’s website at humboldthousing.org/.